WiFi internet access is now commonplace in most service venues, but 4G net access using WiMax will soon be commonplace in most cities.
WiFi
This Bill was introduced on January 27, 2010, and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce “for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker.” This Bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives, to be headed by the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives. If enacted, this Bill would give the Under Secretary the power to administer rural broadband-related grant and loan programs, conduct rural outreach, foster development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision, assess technologies (including WiFi, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, and broadband over power lines), serve as a single information source and provide technical assistance to develop broadband deployment strategies. The Bill also requires the Under Secretary to submit a comprehensive rural broadband strategy report to the President and to Congress, and it establishes a National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund of $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. The Fund is to be used for experimental and pilot rural broadband projects and applications, including WiFI, WIMAX, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber, and broadband delivery over power lines.
Motorola released its latest plug-and-play CPEs delivering WiMAX data, voice and WiFi services. The CPEi 800 and CPEi 885 deliver high-performance wireless internet connection. The CPEi 800 is a data only modem and the CPEi 885 provides power-packed capability and functionality to support increased data demand.
“Motorola continues to deliver greater innovation and diversity in our product lines to meet today’s demands for advanced home-networking solutions,” Fred Gabbard, vice president of product management, Motorola Networks, said, “These additions to our portfolio demonstrate our commitment to WiMAX, ensuring our operator customers have the right products, at the right time, to advance their businesses.”
The CPEi 800 works in all bands. It’s a basic data-only wireless USB modem designed for fast entry into market. It’s for operators looking to offer data only services to laptop users or plug into a wireless router to create a hotspot. It doesn’t need to be installed and connects end-users to 4G speeds within seconds. The device will be available for operators in August 2010.
The CPEi 885 is an upgrade from the CPEi 775. It builds on the platform used in Motorola’s CPE offerings. It is also the first device that works on both WiMAX and WiFi. It will initially work only in the 3.5GHz band and supports WPS security features. It has one data and two ATA ports, providing an integrated 4G experience.
The launch of these two devices, along with CPEi 825 complete Motorola’s new 800 series of WiMAX CPE products. The family of devices can be deployed on Motorola and non-Motorola networks. The CPEi 885 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010. Motorola supplies some of the largest WiMAX operators in the world. They’ve supplied USB WiMAX modems for CLEAR, Time Warner Cable and other international operators.… Read the rest
D2 Technologies will join with GCT Semiconductor to provide users with VoIP over WiMAX for mobile devices. It will be for Android and Linux operating systems.
D2′s mCUE communications software and its vPort embedded VoIP engine power two GDM7205 from GCT. The result being OEMs and ODMs, a faster and cheaper way to bring mobile WiMAX devices to market with several different VoIP and IP communication capabilities.
The device will be showcased during CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas starting March 23-25. It will also show off an optimized integration of vPort VoIP engine embedded directly on a GDM 7205 for single-chip mobile applications.
“WiMAX and 4G networks are poised for phenomenal growth; however, mobile devices that can take advantage of their greater bandwidth and speed have been slow to enter the market,” said Doug Makishima, chief operating officer at D2 Technologies. “Now that the industry is actively working toward the creation and delivery of a stable WiMAX infrastructure, OEMs and ODMs are eager to launch products aimed at fulfilling consumer demand. By partnering with GCT, we can offer a turnkey mobile platform for delivering 4G unified communications/VoIP over WiMAX on the Android or Linux OS.”
GCT 7205 offers a versatile chip that is perfect for high demand for processing and wireless connectivity. Combined with D2′s vPort software platform, it offers manufacturers the opportunity to bring dual mode WiFi and WiMAX enabled mobile devices to market. vPort’s advanced VoIP offers voice quality assurance technology like jitter buffer and packet loss compensation. mCUE enables Skype, video call/chat, seamless call handover and HD voice.
“GCT wants to offer its customers the most advanced chipsets possible for efficiently and economically delivering new products built on OS such as Linux,” said Dr. Kyeongho “KH” Lee, president and CEO of GCT Semiconductor. “By porting D2’s vPort to the GDM7205, OEMs and ODMs get the industry’s most advanced IP communications capabilities in a small and efficient form factor – in effect, a complete solution for accelerating design-to-market timelines for VoIP over WiMAX mobile devices.”
Photo Courtesy of Christopher Chan via Flickr… Read the rest
Avago Technologies released its latest, two high linear amplifier modules. They improve signal quality for WiMAX and WiFi that operate in the 2GHz frequency.
The unit includes high Pout for good linearity and low interference, high power added efficiency. It also has input and output pre-match for matching and application simplicity. The modules are perfect for use in the final stage PA in a wide range of WiMAX, WLAN and LTE applications that operate in the 2300 to 2700 MHz spectrum.
Photo Courtesy of aplumb via Flickr… Read the rest
A Cisco representative confirmed that the company will stop designing and building new WiMAX base stations. It will put more time and effort into the packet core since purchasing Starent Networks.
Cisco purchased Navini Networks in 2007, entering the WiMAX market. It was seen as a way to build out its WiFi and WiFi-mesh portfolios and enter emerging markets for broadband internet. Cisco got some large contracts for LTE and WiMAX with Verizon Wireless, Clearwire and Sprint Nextel.
It will be interesting to see what will happen with such a large company leaving the marketplace. It gives room to smaller companies, like Pure Wave, to fill the void left by Cisco.
Photo Courtesy of wuji9981 via Flickr… Read the rest
Newport Digital Technologies unveiled its latest LED digital sign that provides high definition video and audio streaming. It works on WiFi, WiMAX and 3G cell networks.
Users can customize displays from 50″ to stadium-sized displays, connecting to the sign controls through the internet.
“This wireless LED digital signage solution is yet another achievement of NDT’s in its ability to bring leading-edge technology through its collaboration with its technology incubators, the Institute for Information Industry (III) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI),” said Newport Digital’s CEO, Michael Lutton. “This product line reflects the company’s ability to bring leading-edge technology to market in a cost-effective manner and is now available to our AT&T and Ingram Micro sales channels. We anticipate this unique wireless signage solution to generate significant revenue for NDT in calendar years 2010 and 2011.”
Using WiMAX and 3G connections allows users to stream high quality live video to the screen from the internet to the screen. It’s a quality application that will help promote the continued roll out of WiMAX. NDT is a leader in rolling out WiMAX, linking a learning center in one part of Orange County, CA to a school as part of a wireless internet connection initiative in California.… Read the rest
Novatel just announced that they have completed testing a new WiMax version of their popular MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and that they are also experimenting with more wearable mobile devices. The new 4G WiMax WiFi has supposedly achieved 18Mbps throughput and a potential peak of over 30Mbps downlink and 10Mbps uplink.
In terms of wearable devices, Novatel has signed up to use Qualcomm’s most recent range of “Wearable Mobile Device modules”, including two models that offer 1X and 1X EVDO Rev.A connectivity along with Bluetooth, GPS, an accelerometer, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Specifics on the development of these two devices have not been revealed just yet.
“Qualcomm is pleased to share its innovative Wearable Mobile Device module technology with Novatel,” said Jack Steenstra, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm. “Qualcomm’s Wearable Mobile Device module designs enable the development of very small form factor devices. This technology transfer agreement will allow Novatel Wireless to commercialize the Wearable Mobile Device WMD-1X and EV-DO modules under its existing agreements with Qualcomm, making them readily available to device developers.”
Though there is no launch date yet for the 4G WiMax MiFi release, it can be expected that they are hustling to get it on the market since Sprint has already launched a similar model, the Overdrive by Sierra Wireless.
Photo courtesy of abulhussain via Flickr… Read the rest
According to the 10th issue of the 4GCounts Quarterly Report From Maravedis, at the end of the third quarter of 2009, the number of mobile WiMax (802.16e-2005) subscribers surpassed the number of fixed WiMax (802.16-2004) subscribers worldwide for the very first time.
Co-author of the report and 4GCounts team leader Cintia Garza said, “77% of CPEs installed in Q3 2009 were indoor CPEs with over 3.6 million units, followed by USB dongles (595,000 units or 13%) and PCMCIA cards (240,000 units or 5%).”
For LTE, the second half of 2009 showed progress and growth in new LTE operator commitments and in terms of device certifications scheme and chipset development.
“Although dual mode devices including GSM, EVDO, and LTE are not yet commercially available, the first engineering samples of dual-mode chipsets were shipped in early 2009. Devices will become available in the second half of 2010 for dongles/embedded applications, but not until 2011 for the handsets and lower power devices such as MiFi WiFi routers,” commented Esteban Monturus, 4G analyst for Europe.
Key Findings from the Report Included:
-The average residential and business ARPU generated among operators during Q3 2009 across all regions was US$41 and US$121 respectively.
-BWA/WiMax base station sectors installed as of Q3 2009 totaled 201,355 – an increase of 25% from 160,882 the previous quarter.
-85% of WiMax operators offer unlimited data usage compared to 41% of 3G operators. That proportion will gradually decrease as operators look for new ways to manage data consumption.… Read the rest
